Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 8, 2010 / 06:03 pm (CNA).- The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, warned this week that pagan culture is invading society in order to devalue and replace the traditions of the Argentinean people, who nevertheless continue to look to Christ to meet their needs.

“The prayers of our people for bread, work, good health ... in addition to being real needs, are in a way nice excuses for drawing close to Jesus,” the cardinal said during the Mass for Corpus Christi, which also closed the Year for Priests in the archdiocese.

Cardinal Bergoglio underscored the importance of the Eucharist and noted that Christ “asks us to help distribute him to others as Bread. Through our hands, he wishes to be close to the people who need him.”

Addressing young people, Cardinal Bergoglio invited them to shun the passing fads of the day and to boldly leave their mark on society. “Like Jesus, you also wish to leave a radical impact, with all of our souls, with all of your hearts, with your entire lives,” he said.

Referring to the Year for Priests, the cardinal thanked priests for “making Jesus present in the midst of our daily lives, in each absolution, at each wedding, at each Mass.”